355ml Bottle from Good Spirits Co, Glasgow (£4.80):This was a beer that started out really well for me, there was a lot of tropical fruits on the nose and plenty of hops too but when it came to the taste I felt it was all over the place with too much sourness and the hops being overpowered by the apricot and citrus flavours. The beer still remained drinkable but it was a real let down after smelling the beer, the balance seemingly off a little and a body that felt over-carbonated into the bargain.

Cloudy with an orange hue. Apricot is the main aroma I picked up. This one seemed promising enough at first, but on each successive sip a bit of a cloying tartness builds. The taste reminds me of the dried whole apricots from the grocery store that have a dry and slightly chalky aftertaste.This is a strange one. The IPA label seems to be a misnomer but it's not a bad beer.

DATE TASTED: February 10, 2015... GLASSWARE: Maudite snifter... OCCASION: pre-meniscus surgery drinking... APPEARANCE: swiftly thinning off-white head suggests heavy alcohol; misty, peach amber body that shows little vibrancy; spotty ... AROMA: goodness--an alluring powder keg of hops that range from strong orange peel and melon, to resin and fragrant flowers, to some metallic pilsener elements and apple late; each breath evokes a separate scent, almost impossible for a beer to accomplish ... PALATE: a soft, smooth, West Coast feel, with a lingering, palpable mouthfeel--not rambunctious at all, come to think of it; dry at the end...TASTE: complex mix of vanilla, orange peel, and bubblegum; pixey stick-like sugars cloak the 8.4% ABV to dubiousness; ...OVERALL: from its attractive label to its pleasantly sippable intensity, a beer that snuck up on me once before; by the drink's end, an amicable warmth pervades; disappointing this only comes in four-packs that steep a price, but on tap at a happy-hour price, quite a steal ...

Look: A touch of chill haze swirls in the distance of this otherwise very clear brew. The body, which hosts a marathon of crackling bubbles, is a true gold. The snow white head is thick and creamy, and leaves behind spotty lacing.

Smell: An feminine perfume--floral hops and notes of honey and dried apricot are given prominence by the pale malt background. Rich earthiness and a pinch of white pepper reveal themselves not long after the initial pour, adding appreciated layers of complexity. It is an elegant, yet strong bouquet--the scent lasts long enough to contribute greatly from the first sip, to the last.

Taste: A unique tangy character, which gives a confident nod to the dried apricot scent, morphs into Ritz cracker maltiness, but continues to hang around the roof of the mouth in the finish. The hops bring moderate bitterness and a subdued, herbal flavor. While the hop presence cannot be ignored, it remains mild for an Imperial IPA. The simple tastes of sweet, sour, and bitter are somehow unable to come into the full bloom required to identify more specific flavors. It's as if these surface level elements, however basic, manage to have enough strength to trap their complex components beneath an almost airtight surface. The result is a beer that keeps promising something special, but never quite gives it up. And yet, the ghost of that deliciousness is still to be appreciated, and the overall taste is still perfectly good.

Mouthfeel: Deceptively sessionable: The 8.4% ABV is prepared to sneak up on people due to the beer's dry, crisp character, and the additional lightness provided by a healthy amount of carbonation. The underlying mouthfeel is of moderate viscosity, but the overall character in this sense is thirst quenchingly refreshing. This quality compliments the beer's citrusy elements perfectly; sometimes it feels good to be deceived.

Overall: In terms of complexity and style-dictated hop strength, Brooklyn Blast doesn't quite deliver. And yet, it boasts some unique and tasty qualities which make it ultimately worth coming back to. There is a wealth of promise here--a few tweaks could unleash a real jewel.as it stands now, I would be more impressed with this beer if it was a pale ale.

Pours a nice hazy orangy-amber with a short-lived white head. The head leaves some good lacing. The aroma is pleasant, with nice tropical fruit and citrus notes. The taste is a little bit of mixed bag. There are those hop characteristics but it also has a bit of an aftertaste I can't place. But it's not particularly enjoyable. The body has a nice weight and feeling, with a little bit of a bitter bite on the finish.